Nigeria begins extradition of Diezani Allison-Madueke, Interpol issues arrest warrant

The International Police (Interpol) have issued an arrest warrant for Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke following a request by the Nigerian government to the agency.

A source has disclosed to Sahara Reporters  that the necessary charges had been filed and attached to the extradition request by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation reports Sahara Reporters.

By this request, all Interpol member countries were obliged to arrest the former minister anywhere she is seen on their territories.

Madueke had been holed up in London, United Kingdom for over three years.

Attached to the extradition request, was the November 4, 2018 order for her arrest by Justice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court.

The court had directed the Inspector-General of Police; the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Director-General of the State Security Service and all heads of other agencies to apprehend the ex-petroleum minister.

The judge further directed that the order which was signed by the court registrar, E. Balami, should be attached to a warrant for execution on Madueke.

The source said, “We have filed the necessary processes and the Interpol has red-flagged Allison-Madueke. This means that the extradition process has been kick started and the former minister may be arrested by the United Kingdom police or any police agency all over the world and repatriated to Nigeria.” Sahara Reporters states on its website.

Checks on the Interpol website, however, indicated that the accused person had not been listed.

Only the profiles of two male Nigerians-Ehirobo Nathaniel, 53, and Ernest Kenel, 49-wanted for advance fee fraud- were listed on the website.

Calls to the Interpol office in Nigeria on the matter by WIRED Nigeria went unanswered.